University of Memphis Athletics
University of Memphis
10-1-2, 5-0-2
Florida Atlantic
2-9-4, 1-4-2
No. 17 Tigers Move to Top of AAC Standings with 1-0 Victory Over Florida Atlantic
Oct 20, 2024 | Women's Soccer
BOCA RATON, Fla. – The No. 17 Memphis women's soccer team posted their seventh shutout of the season on Sunday night, leaning on a first-half goal by Ashley Henderson en route to a 1-0 victory over Florida Atlantic.
The Tigers (10-1-2, 5-0-2 AAC) move to the top of the AAC standings with three games to play. They are tied with South Florida, who have played one extra game, and are one point ahead of Rice.
"It was a good, "grind-it-out" type of win for us. No game is perfect, and every game is different," said head coach Brooks Monaghan. "Some will be pretty; this one wasn't, but there are no easy games in this conference and it was a good result in tough conditions."
It was expected that Memphis would look fresh to open the game with a rest advantage over the hosts, and sure enough, their high press paid off in the 17th minute. After winning the ball, Momo Nakao's shot was saved by the keeper directly to Henderson, who dribbled around several defenders before putting the ball into an unguarded net.
With the rain pouring down in the first half, neither team could sustain many attacks. Ai Kitagawa's shot from outside the box went high for the only other big chance of the first half; Memphis did not allow a single shot in the opening 45.
The rain cleared after the halftime interval, leaving a grimy surface that saw 13 total fouls in the second half. After having most of the ball in the first half, Memphis kept a similar approach, keeping the Owls off the ball with conservative possession.
Florida Atlantic's best chance came in the 86th minute when Hailey Santiago got on the end of a cross but could only head it over the bar. The Tigers outshot their opponent for the 11th time this year, totaling 14 attempts and allowing four.
The Tigers have a big week ahead of them, hosting Rice on Thursday at 7 p.m. in a game with massive implications on the AAC standings. The match will be broadcast on ESPN+.
How to follow the Tigers: For complete information on Memphis Tigers Soccer, visit www.GoTigersGo.com and follow the team's social media channels on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Team Stats
Ashley Henderson (5)
GOAL by MEM Henderson, Ashley.
16:39
